An Elemental Phosphorus Photocatalyst with a Record High Hydrogen Evolution Efficiency

摘要

Semiconductive property of elementary substance is an interesting and attractive phenomenon. We obtain a breakthrough that fibrous phase red phosphorus, a recent discovered modification of red phosphorus by Ruck et al., can work as a semiconductor photocatalyst for visible-light-driven hydrogen (H-2) evolution. Small sized fibrous phosphorus is obtained by 1) loading it on photoinactive SiO2 fibers or by 2) smashing it ultrasonically. They display the steady hydrogen evolution rates of 633 mmol h(-1) g(-1) and 684 mu mol h(-1) g(-1), respectively. These values are much higher than previous amorphous P (0.6 mu mol h(-1) g(-1)) and Hittorf P (1.6 mu mol h(-1) g(-1)). Moreover, they are the highest records in the family of elemental photocatalysts to date. This discovery is helpful for further understanding the semiconductive property of elementary substance. It is also favorable for the development of elemental photocatalysts.